BENNINGTON — A Brandon man is facing criminal charges after his former employer accused him of using a company credit card to buy items for himself.

Troy M. Hale, 19, of Brandon, pleaded innocent on Monday in Bennington criminal court to a misdemeanor charge of using false pretenses to obtain items worth less than $900.

Hale was originally scheduled to answer to the charges in March, but at the time, the state referred the case to the court diversion program. If Hale had successfully completed the program, the charge would have been expunged from his record.

Although no reason was given, court records show that Hale’s failure to complete diversion was reported on July 2.

In an affidavit, Trooper Lauren Ronan, of Vermont State Police, said the owner of Waterworks, a treatment plant and service company in Sunderland, reported Oct. 16 that Hale had misused a company credit card.

Ronan said that after some investigation, she identified the card was used three times between Sept. 10 and Oct. 1, for purchases that seemed to be outside the allowable uses set by the company. The total amount for those three charges was about $90.

Ronan said the card was used at a convenience store and a fast-food restaurant.

Hale was released without bail on Monday but was ordered not to have contact with Waterworks’ employees.